Strict policy of EMS requires EMS to be rid of all damaging weapons and addons from their ships. If you notice an EMS with weapons and is actively firing them, please contact us via the website and in-game.

-CoreRep

Actually... not quite.

[EMS] will not carry weapons unless contracted, and even if contracted can only carry weapons for means of self defense. That is, [EMS] cannot fire a weapon unless someone starts shooting at them, in which case it is at their discretion.

What good are we if all we can do is jump into the sector and be cannon fodder, after all.

-LD

Maybe a month ago I saw an EMS ship (forgot who) actually help the person they were contracting with take out a player. I'm not sure if they still do that but if so then you have to make themm your priority kill target. No one expects EMS to shoot them in the back because we don't think they have weapons.

If you have weapons and are on contract helping someone you should declare it. But i think weapons should be self defense only not for helping the contractee.

I think we had a similar conversation before but if EMS does this they are no better then mercs and should be treated as such.I don't think you can be neutral one min and a paid merc the next and be trusted.

just my 2cents.

What good are we if all we can do is jump into the sector and be cannon fodder

I asked that question about [VPR] for years. Never got an answer.

VPR has a different mandate though. They have weapons to protect traders. And VPR is making its presence known in game. And some of the newer recruits are good. I know what to expect from VPR but no idea with EMS

With me, what you see is what you get: a drunken, highly accurate and effective MechTech with nothing more powerful than me mighty Rep Mrk2...unless I'm in a ship other than white-usually black-I pack nothing stronger than Scotch.

Admittedly skipping some of the less important messages:

I would say to EMS that you're idea of making yourselves hired tools makes you a merc.
That said, you are highly limiting your usefulness if you can merely be bought on a whim. You cannot be trusted to not betray your contractor at the essential moment when you are needed most, and turn against them, not refunding their money by the way!

I foresee this ending in EMS's destruction because no one will trust EMS pilots, and ultimately refuse to contract with them.

I for one will not negotiate with pirates, terrorists, or enter into bidding wars against them. And it should be stated, if EMS insists on aiding piracy in the universe, then I have no doubt certain groups will have no issue recognizing it as a mercenary/terrorist group. (This applies mostly to JestatisBess' post).

Now, of course, this sort of commenting would have been highly useful when we were still unsure of whether to put this policy into action.

The policy is revoked, until we find a better solution (and when I finally manage to get a hold of Strat).

-Little Death

if EMS insists on aiding piracy in the universe, then I have no doubt certain groups will have no issue recognizing it as a mercenary/terrorist group.

And that's the difference. Pirates will generally not KOS [EMS] who are not actively aiding [VPR]--and if they did, you'd hear everyone bitching about the pirates immoral conduct.

But if [EMS] starts repairing pirates at all, [VPR] will declare you KOS. Any time, any where, no matter what you're doing . . . they'll shoot [EMS].

Good thing [VPR] isn't enough of a threat for that arrogant attitude to matter :)

LD, I've poked Strat about the update. Hopefully he'll get back to you soon.
Feel free to raise him via email (its on our wiki).

Just a note: Despite an internal view that EMS is something of a merc guild, we do not consider them KOS. Judging from what I know of our members, EMS becoming VPR KOS is unlikely. Mercs are mercs. When they are aiding the cause of our enemy, they will be killed (though there is some slight debate on this point); when they are making good people's lives easier or are uncontracted, we have little reason to shoot them. Medics are medics, mercs or not.

If EMS does not want to be targeted in battle, it might be interesting for EMS to offer repairs outside the battle zone. Combat-zone medics (who repair during battle so that a ship may continue to fight) are reasonable targets.

Of course, I am not an official representative of VPR – the opinions I express here are mine and mine alone. Please contact an officer or council-member for official statements.

[EMS] is not on the Viper KOS list and there are no plans for them to ever be. I can be reached by email, on the VPR forum, or in-game.

Why the big fuss....most pirates are either too cheap or too broke to enter into a serious bidding war!

And why shouldn't EMS get paid? They are providing a service -- they should get compensation. If you don't want to contract with 'em then fly back to a station and pay THEM.

TANSTAAFL after all...unless you live in the newly formed USSA (United Socialist States of America)...

FatStrat85: I wasn't saying EMS is or should be on anyones KOS list especially not VPRs. What i was saying if they become merc and actively help the people they are contracted with with weapons then they might in the future be considered merc and maybe that will change.

I personally think that any auctioning or buying out of a contract is a bad idea. But thats just me.

jb

I don't really understand the "for the good of the people" argument, because if [EMS] were purely there "for the good of the people" they wouldn't be repairing pirates before, after, or during battle.

There's 3 different possibilities here:

1) [EMS] is a corporation, seeking to earn a profit. They establish guidelines for their guild members and enforce them.
2) [EMS] is a mercenary group. They are healers-for-hire (you don't have to carry guns to be a mercenary) willing to heal anyone in the hopes they receive a tip, or to feel good about "helping someone else."
3) [EMS] is a non-profit humanitarian aide organization. They seek to relieve suffering, and take tips to keep their operation solvent.

They take contracts, so it's not #3. They don't require tips, so it's not #1. It seems to me then that they're mercs, plain and simple, and whether YOU are neutral or not, providing aide and comfort to the enemy is providing aide and comfort to the enemy. VPRs goal is to diminish piracy and increase security for traders and peaceful pilots. To turn a blind eye to someone who is so clearly acting contrary to that goal (whether exclusively or not) is just silly.

The comments made in this post are my opinion, and in NO WAY reflect the opinions of the Vipers as a whole.

Neatchee, "for the good of the people" is just that, for the good of the people of VO. ALL the people. EMS is neutral and does not judge TGFT for choosing trade and profit, nor do we judge pirates for choosing what they do. Different strokes for different folks. It would have been pretty ridiculous if, when Lincoln was freeing the slaves said, "Well, freedom for the slaves of the North, but those slaves in the South must fend for themselves."

Being neutral is what we do. Sometimes we get killed out of the blue**cough k'metreq cough**but still we do our best to get back up and proceed. EMS also has the smallest membership of any guild, and it's hard to be everywhere at once. You have to be in EMS to realise our position: how to help EVERYONE possible and piss off NO ONE. A pretty tall order to fill, and sometimes we fall short. EMS is a grand ideal, however the tools of EMS are, after all, guided by human(ish) hands.

While I'm more than happy to accept tips (Hogs, storm extenders, and repair guns Mrk2 and reloads aren't free) I do this more out of a feeling that helping people is my tip. It makes me feel good to know that I have helped others. That, maybe if not for me and EMS, they would have perished while taking a mission that can't be started more than once, or that they had just traveled half-way 'round the 'Verse just to home somewhere so they can mine, etc. I hope you get the picture...

On the issue of contracts, yes we occasionally accept contracts, be it from "good" guys or "bad" guys, but think about it: if you needed us for more than a quick repair in passing, isn't it nice to know that you can negotiate with us and get the job, whatever it be, done?

The question of "buying out" a contract has become moot. Our Commander has scrapped that idea. I don't think anything more need be said about the "unfairness" of EMS allowing someone else to buy their services while already engaged in a pilot contract.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled [EMS] board...

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Off topic and not RP:
elvis777: Look it up. Lincoln did free the slaves in the South but not the north till much later.

Elvis: All I was pointing out is that you guys aren't a humanitarian aid group, or you wouldn't be aiding people who work against humanitarian efforts. That's like saying "Well, the Taliban members are human too, so we'll heal them so they can go back to terrorism." It's not like you're a doctor saving actual lives that would be gone forever if it weren't for you. The only thing helping a pirate does is save them money and make it easier for them to pirate peaceful traders.

Whether you do it for money, that "feel good" feeling, or in exchange for services, a mercenary is a mercenary any way you look at it.

Maybe EMS should ask TGFT and/or VPR for sponsorship. That way you won't have to take any contracts and u can just heal all players and not take money from anyone. That way you can still be truly neutral.

Just an idea.

A bad one. Would Coke sponsor a group of people and then give them the choice to drink Pepsi? No, so why would TGFT sponsor EMS to heal pierats?
Not really in our interest, Jes.

I again float the idea of healing only outside the combat zone, and heal on a pay-per-heal basis. During fights that is.

unpopular to be sure, but it does help with neutrality.